by Paul Heisel
"Furawa," Iristi whispered, pointing at the cavalry banners. "They must have mounted an offensive. They have never had incursions this far south. This is, this is…terrible."
Feln didn't respond as he was figuring out what to do. He realized the invaders would discover their hiding place in a matter of minutes. There was no way for him to fight this force of soldiers, nor could he simply use his magic and disappear - he couldn't leave Iristi behind to die. He had to act immediately so both of them could escape.
"Come," Feln said, pulling her close. He looked into her dark eyes. She was frightened. "Stay low. We're going that way."
"But that's right into the heart of the Furawa attack!"
"They are intent on destroying the city," Feln said. "If we stay, we die. Our only chance is to slip by a part of the town they have already attacked."
He gripped her delicate shoulders and squeezed them. The silky green fabric caught on his calloused hands. "I would have picked different clothes to flee in had I been you."
Iristi smacked him, the slap stinging his cheek.
The shock wore off and he could see Iristi wasn't amused. "Follow me and stay close." Leading the way, Feln took Iristi to an adjacent building and put it between them and the invading force. He could hear the cries of people as the soldiers butchered them, and it took all of his strength not to help them. There was nothing he could do though, there were too many attackers. He couldn't fight an entire army and survive. Taking her hand, he dragged her into an alley, across another avenue toward buildings that weren't on fire. The lane was clear of people and Feln stepped out into the darkness, hoping to find a route of escape. There were buildings, lanterns and candles burning as people awoke to this nightmare. To his far left a tall three story building went into flames, brightening the street. He could see bodies of the slain in the direction he wanted to go, and behind him he could see the advancing army. Many corpses ahead of him were headless, some were riddled with arrows, and others were slashed brutally beyond the killing blow. It was a massacre. He thought that Furawa was making a point. Retreating back where Iristi was waiting, Feln took her hand and pulled her along through the street over the piles of dead. She squeezed his hand so hard he wasn't sure he'd be able to peel her hand away. Looking at her, he could see that Iristi was terrified.
By moving closer to where the army had entered town and moving in the opposite direction they were advancing, Feln hoped to get beyond the first line of incursion. They were making their way past the primary force so they could find an area in the wilderness to hide before reinforcements arrived. Feln recalled the forest toward the mountains looked rather thick. That was what they needed, a thick forest that horses couldn't travel through. Behind them, the sounds of battle died down. Feln could see in the distance columns of troops marching along the road in formation. Reinforcements, as he had expected. Feln yanked Iristi behind a burning building and led her along the outside, moving perpendicular to the oncoming soldiers. At the next street they sprinted across to a shoemaker shop, took refuge behind rain barrels, and crouched. The soldiers marched by, the ground vibrating. Feln had absorbed Iristi, his body shielding hers from the outside world. She was trembling and her breaths were short and fast.
"Deep breaths," he said. "Stay calm."
Once the soldiers were a hundred feet away, Feln pulled Iristi to her feet and they went out into the street. More dead bodies. Up one block and over, he found a long fence that bordered a group of properties. They followed this until it ended, moved east away from the town toward the foothills. Here not as many buildings were ablaze, but the dead were numerous. There were frightened people who had survived the attack - some had the sense to flee as they were doing, while others were foolishly determined to defend their homes and businesses.
At last the outermost shacks, housing for the poorer folks, gave way to the nearby fields that they worked and the forests that they hunted. They had made it out of town. Stands of trees were visible in the distance, and Feln led Iristi along the tilled rows of beets and over short wooden fences. It was a struggle for Iristi. They made their way amongst a taller crop that Feln didn't recognize, it had a sweet smell, and they paused so Iristi could rest. The air was fresher here, and a breeze brought with it the coolness of the forest. Extending into the distance against the starry sky was a bank of clouds that consumed the deep night. Lightning flared in the direction they were headed. Thunder followed. Feln looked back at the city to see what they had come from. Flames licked higher into the sky, brightening the area in yellow and orange hues. The large estate on the outskirts of town hadn't been spared either; it was in flames as well. He wondered how many had been killed. Hundreds? Thousands?
The first rains to hit them were cold, the drops massive in size. Lightning raged around them and thunder clapped, vibrating the air. It was a violent storm coming. They went into the forest, taking a well-traveled trail that ended at a small camp, the tent empty and the fire pit abandoned and cold. They kept moving deeper into the forest despite the darkness and treacherous footing, as Feln was unwilling to stop just yet. Hand in hand they slowed to a crawl, picking their way through the brush and trees had become increasingly difficult to navigate. They were both soaked to the bone and they collapsed underneath a large pine, keeping as close to the trunk as possible to stay dry. Iristi looked bedraggled, her green silk dress stained by water and ash. It was ripped and torn in several places. Her face, streaked with rain, was filled with shock. She shivered from the cold.
Feln wrapped his robe around her to keep the water off. The weight of it seemed to drag her down. He took a soothing breath and held her gaze, wondering what she was thinking. What were they going to do now? To stay in the area would be foolish, so they should flee, but which way should they go? Were there more troops farther north? Was the army headed for Hou to the south? The rains came down harder, pounding on the forest. The tree gave them little relief.
"What is strategic about this town?" Feln asked.
"Nothing," Iristi replied, teeth chattering. "It's just a town."
"This army is large. Do you realize this army is a handful of days from Hou?"
"Yes, I realize that," she answered. "Furawa has crossed Emesia's borders before, small skirmishes, but not this far south. Never this far south. They always attack farther north. This far south they have Ashimo to content with, who are supposed to be our allies. Emesia's allies."
"Should we go back to Hou then? To warn them?"
"We can't go back, not now. If their goal is Hou we'll be caught in it - Hou has no defense from a force this large. Our army has been depleted and the militia are spread throughout the region keeping the roads and villages safe. One swift move and Hou would be theirs to control. My uncle…"
"And if they don't go to Hou?"
Iristi was more composed now. "If their goal is to march north toward Hiru, then we'll get caught just the same. Even if we get to the next major town and send word to Hiru of the invasion, they'll be on our heels."
"I think we should keep moving toward Hiru."
"What?"
"We have an advantage. An army of this size will move slowly," Feln said. "We'll be able to stay ahead of it if we keep moving. The only difficulty may be scouts they send ahead, but I doubt they would bother with two weary travelers. I'm still wondering, though, why this area? Why this town?"
"Let me think on it," Iristi replied. "I'm tired. I can't function right now."
"That is why they attacked when they did. Most everyone was in a deep sleep. It'll be dawn soon. If we're going to outrun this army, we should keep moving. We need to get as far away as we can before the sun is up."
Iristi nodded. She leaned into Feln and held on to him. "So tired," she said.
"We'll move deeper into the forest, which will be difficult for any horse to follow. Anyone on foot would have to be swift and careless to catch us, not to mention picking the correct direction we went."
"Can't we stay here for a few h
ours? Under this tree? No one will find us."
"I don't think we're far enough away from the army. War and battle are familiar to me, I can fight, but I can't fight a whole army."
"But you would if you had to," she said into his shoulder. She squeezed him tight.
"I would try to keep out of that situation." Feln pushed with his feet, digging his back into the tree bark. Her presence was distracting, a feeling he didn't need. There could be patrols out there just about to find them. They wouldn't stand a chance if caught.
"Some situations are unavoidable, and you have to do what is necessary," Iristi said. Still she held him tight. "Sometimes your only choice is to face the inevitable. Fate."
"Yes, there are those times," he said, not sure where this was going.
Iristi pulled herself closer and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She let her soft lips linger against his rough stubble longer than she should have. "Thank you for saving me," she whispered.
"We're not safe yet."
"We're alive. In Emesia there's a saying, 'better to be alive and uncomfortable than ashes scattered to the winds'."
Feln nodded, he understood, yes, cremation was the preferred burial method in Pyndira. It was better to be alive than dead. The world around him collapsed without warning. The pressure of the situation made him unsure of what he should do next. He had been here four or five days and nothing was going his way. The horse demon, the bandits, and now an army were testing his resolve. He was lost as well, trying to find a trusting person who could help him. How was he going to find Suun? Pyndira was a dangerous, complex place, and he had to find out about his belt, his mother's belt, and discover who she was. She had been part of a family, but which family? She had ruled over it. Would they expect him to take his mother's place? That's what Suun had alluded to in so many words.
If you had the belt, I would show you how to use it. I would show you the way home.
The warmth of Iristi's body seeped into his, for a moment letting him forget the rain pounding down and the numerous questions he had. As the presence of her invaded him, the world vanished. He could feel her pressing against his side, her body tightly connected to his in an awkward embrace. She wriggled closer, her breath was soft on his neck, the rhythm quickening with each moment that passed. She kissed his cheek again, squeezed with all her might, then nuzzled closer. Feln gently pushed her away. He didn't need this unwanted affection, he needed rest. She didn't appear offended by him rejecting her offer, she simply curled up next to him and lay her head on his hip. Her eyes were closed. He closed his, feeling his body shutting down as the effects of the adrenaline waned.
The rain came back with such ferocity it woke Feln before he could fall into a deeper sleep. Iristi had her arms around him, asleep, at least they had kept each other warm. Gently he peeled away from her death grip, the cool air and dampness replacing her warm body. They needed to get moving and find a safe place before the clouds cleared and the full daylight came. With the rain coming in again, it didn't take long for the dryness they had achieved to disappear. Outside of the boughs of the great pine Feln could see it was dawn. There was an iota of light breaking through the storm, enough so they could see better and get moving.
"Iristi," he called to her.
The sleeping form woke and she moved slowly and stretched as rain began to penetrate deeper into their cover. She looked disoriented.
"We need to get moving."
"Of course," she said, rolling to her knees.
"Here, eat this," he said as he handed her one of the prized honey fish cakes and his waterskin.
"You are a strange one," Iristi said, smiling as she took the food and drink. When she gave him a confused look, he tore off the wax on the honey fish cake.
"I'm not sure what you mean. You'll have to explain this to me."
"It's good and bad. Feln, you have a belt, technically you have station. You choose to use it with restraint and anonymity. Others in your situation would have left me to die at the inn, or used their station to save themselves. You could have bargained with the Furawan commanders, made a deal so you could save your skin. They are known to respect other Favored Ones at times. They may have let you live."
"That sounds like the good. What's the bad?"
"Although there is honor and protocol and lawfulness in Pyndira, there is also deceit, treachery, and machinations worthy of the Demon Lords. Unless you are the most gifted performer in all of Pyndira, I would say you are naïve. You seem lost and that is bad."
He felt his pulse rise and the words he spoke came rushing out. "And what should have a person of my station done differently in this situation?"
"No need to get defensive. I'm trying to help you."
"Sorry. What could I have done?"
"Used your power to influence others," she answered. "Away from the large cities you would be safe letting others know you are a Favored One. They would assume you are from the Ku family. You would have help, assistance, whatever you wanted."
"That doesn't help with the invading army."
"You could have surrendered to the commanders. I'm sure the owners of the large estates bargained with the invaders."
"They were on fire last I saw. Didn't look like it worked for them."
"You could have come to an arrangement with them. You just need to act like you know what you're doing and don't appear so lost."
What she had said was true; he was lost. Feln wasn't sure how he would find Suun or if he would find where he needed to go. No other options existed, he needed to trust someone so he could get information and solve his problems. So far all he had done was solve other people's problems, not his own. He wondered, though, could he trust Iristi with the truth? Would she help him? It would probably come at a high price.
By the time they were finished eating, the storm passed and the morning sun was over the horizon, casting a spidery web of light through the openings in the forest. Birds began to sing. Feln stretched his muscles and watched the forest come alive. A blue pigeon fluttered from its perch to the ground, searching the leaves for fresh worms. A bird that looked like a pheasant was farther away, skulking through the brush. Short gusts of wind came, flinging the drier leaves into the air and scattering them. The pigeon took off at Feln's first movement. The pheasant didn't take to the air. Instead it went deeper in the brush. He thought about stalking the pheasant, flushing it out, and using one of his throwing knives to kill it, but he didn't have time for hunting. They had to get away from the army first.
"It's light now, we should get moving before the army does," Feln said to Iristi. "We'll travel deeper into the forest, find a place to rest, and regain our strength."
She wrapped the damp robe completely about her. From underneath the tree she crouched, made her way out, stood straight, and sauntered away as if she knew where they needed to go. Feln followed, caught up to her, and pointed her in the correct direction away from the town. They set off through the forest, Feln leading the way. It was thick and unyielding, tangled with brush and stinging plants. The maple and oak trees, gnarled and old, twisted every which way and offered no easy path. This was both good and bad - good because it would be impossible for the army to follow them, bad because it was tough going and was expending the reserve energy they had. Feln led them through the oaks for an hour. They found the trees had changed to a larger, taller, thicker species he had never seen before. There was additional space to maneuver, as the great span of the branches created a canopy that limited the amount of light that reached the forest floor. He found a hard-packed game trail and followed it until it ended at a sunlit clearing. Feln could see that Iristi was at the end of her endurance. Although she looked to be a fit woman, this type of travel was beyond her stamina.
"Only a bit more," Feln said. "Once I find a good spot for us to rest, we won't travel anymore. We'll rest then. I promise."
Iristi didn't reply. She had no additional strength, not even to talk.
Feln took them through t
he clearing and into a stand of the tall trees. The land began to slope down, opposite of what they had experienced all day walking in the foothills, hinting at a change. The trees had thinned as they traveled farther downhill, snaking along another game trail. Feln could hear the gurgling of a brook in the distance and he was relieved to have found fresh water. The trees thickened toward the bottom, offering difficult passage, but Feln managed to keep them on the game trail until they came to a high bank. Twisted roots jutted out over the water, dangling to the surface. The brook flowed by lazily and the water was shallow. The opposite side was level for many yards and covered with a field of smooth gray and black rocks. Small boulders were beyond. It looked as if the brook had been larger long ago. The trees past the rocks were just as massive, their thick trunks eight or ten feet in diameter and their towering height blocked out the sun. The game trail continued along the bank and disappeared amongst the trees and brush. Feln assumed it eventually went down to the stream so the animals that had been using this trail could drink. This flat area though, he thought, would suit them well enough.
Feln jumped from the bank into the brook, landing with a soft splash. The water was only to his knees. He helped Iristi follow him down, his strong hands gripping her. Without thought, he put her over his shoulder, carried her across the water, and set her down on the opposite side amongst the flat smooth rocks. Iristi kneeled at the water's edge and drank from the brook. Once she had finished, she began splashing water on her face and rinsing it.